‘English Vinglish’,‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ to ‘Kapoor & Sons’: When Bollywood broke the sanskaari mold and portrayed families as they really are

In the same vein, ‘English Vinglish’ was more than a story about learning English one should perceive as a gentle nudge of how families can also forget about their moms. As Shashi, Sridevi simply resonated with a woman’s understated sort of grit, grace, and sadness as she strived to find value in her own home. The film was emotional because it tapped into something we all understand about a mother’s endless capacity for love and patience.

One of the most sincere films of 2016, 'Kapoor & Sons' really captured how complicated contemporary Indian families can be. Brothers who don't see eye to eye. Parents who can't forget. A grandfather who unwittingly brings humor even in sad moments. Everything was so painfully recognizable. The film rang true, it was well-written, and the cast was solid. It was a sweet, although sad, acknowledgment of imperfection.

Though ‘Dangal’ is based on a true story, the film encapsulates Mahavir Singh Phogat's life story and that of his daughters with the requisite authenticity and courage. It’s a sports film, but equally, it navigates the push and pull in a father and daughter relationship forged by the pressures of society and the hopes and dreams they have as individuals. Their familial ties are tortured and strained yet seem real and authentic in a rural Haryana setting.

'Dum Laga Ke Haisha', set in a middle-class enclave in Haridwar, made a charming attempt to study family life in small towns, while following ordinary and flawed people, who were trying to keep both living and relationships together amid economic hardship and family quarrels. It gets warm and funny at the same time as it is whimsical for the underdog concept - thanks to the acting of Sanjay Mishra and Bhumi Pednekar.

'Vicky Donor' did have a plotline about sperm donation, but it was really a movie about fun, quirky Punjabi families. Vicky's loud mom and awesome grandma stole the show with their charm, humor, and general audacity. Sircar's astute attention to the particulars made these two a loving and hilarious caricature of Delhi's middle-class mothers.

'Khosla Ka Ghosla' is one of the most real family dramas about middle-class life that Bollywood has ever produced. It’s still very famous, and for a good reason. Every time people talked to each other, whether it was during family fights or secret missions, it felt hilariously real. The movie's smart writing and well-chosen actors changed a simple argument over land into a very funny and relatable story about Delhi.

Few entries in the cinema have demonstrated a father-daughter relationship as verbatim as 'Piku'. The cinematic strength was in how simple it was, a daughter wanting to be independent and care for the essentials, an old dad unilaterally lovable and frustrating in his quirks, countless other cultural nuances and emotional experiences, and whisperings of love, made it so relatable and lovely throughout.